Baseball batting stride device and system, and method of using same

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for modifying the stride of a baseball batter&#39;s swing motion, including means of capturing a lower portion of a baseball batter&#39;s foot and means of elastomerically tethering the capturing means to substratum, wherein the batter&#39;s leading toes are allowed to stride in any direction essentially free of substantial distal destabilizing hindrance.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] (1) Field of the Invention

[0005] The invention disclosed herein generally relates to devices andmethods for training baseball players in the skill of batting. Morespecifically, this invention relates to devices for teaching a baseballplayer proper foot and lower body techniques for batting, including theoptimal stride length, direction, and toe-orientation.

[0006] Although the sport of baseball has been in existence for manyyears, and is played by very young individuals as well as old, it isquite difficult to hit a baseball with a bat. Even the most accomplishedprofessional fails to hit the ball well enough to put it into play morethan one out of three times at bat. Current batting theory teaches thebatter to stride forward, in a direction parallel to and toward theoncoming pitched ball. One prevailing philosophy holds that the battershould stride forward forcefully, to effect a weight shift from the backfoot to the front foot toward the pitcher's mound. While striding, thebatter should keep the leading front foot oriented perpendicularly tothe path of the oncoming pitched baseball (outer ankle forward), so thatthe batter's toes do not point toward the pitching mound. Toe pivotingallowing the toes to point toward the pitching mound may cause thebatter's knee and hip to improperly “open up” to face the oncoming ball,thereby unnecessarily altering the batter's skeletal and muscularalignment mid-swing when it is most critical to maintain coordinatedswinging motion and leg strength.

[0007] The optimal length and direction of stride, and the optimal footorientation, may differ for each individual depending upon his or herphysical attributes and inclinations. Many batter's are naturallyinclined to stride forward with the toes of the lead foot pointingdirectly at the pitcher's mound. The optimal batting stride andtechnique for each batter may require a uniquely different combinationof biasing to obtain the desired stride length, direction, andtoe-orientation. It may be difficult for some batters to maintain properbalance following the forward stride, if the batter's leading toes arenot pointing at least diagonally toward the pitching mound. The toes arecritical in maintaining balance, and any device for teaching battingtechniques should not create substantial destabilizing impediments orhindrance during the stride forward.

[0008] There is therefore a need for a device capable of biasing theleading foot away from having the toes point directly at or toward thepitcher's mound, yet do so in such a manner that optimizes the stridelength, direction and toe-orientation for that particular batter withouterecting any substantial destabilizing hindrance.

[0009] (2) Description of the Related Art Including InformationDisclosed Under 37 C.F.R. 1.97 and 1.98.

[0010] The following patents are arguably relevant to the patentabilityof the invention disclosed herein: U.S. Pat. No. 1^(st) Inventor Date3,350,096 Kile et al Oct. 31, 1967 3,372,930 Sertich Mar. 12, 19683,466,040 Sertich Sep. 9, 1969 3,815,906 Hermo Jun. 11, 1974 4,194,735Wilson Mar. 25, 1980 4,516,772 Stratton May 14, 1985 4,932,656 PierceJun. 12. 1990 5,318,290 Sawyer Jun. 7, 1994 5,613,677 Walker, Jr. Mar.25, 1997

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,350,096 issued to Kile et al discloses a guidefor constraining the batter from stepping out of the batter's box, andto encourage the batter to stand toward the home plate. Kile discloses aguide for restricting movement of a batter's foot, to prevent theleading foot from stepping out of the batter's box. Kile claims a guidefor restricting a batter's foot during batting practice, comprising apair of parallel track means (wires) extending longitudinally beside thebatter's box, with a foot stirrup resiliently attached between thosetrack members. According to Kile, this device allows relatively freemovement of the leading front foot forward during the batting stride,but normally constrains lateral movement of the foot. Kile uses trackwires elevated slightly above the ground, posing some danger of thebatter tripping over them, perhaps at a critical time such as whendodging an errant baseball pitch. Although Kile believes that there islittle danger of the back foot tripping over the guide wires, Kile neverdiscusses the prospects of the leading foot tripping over the guideswires. By contrast, the invention disclosed herein elastically tethersthe foot without anything to trip over or otherwise prevent the batter'stoes from maintaining balance. Kile also indicates that lateral movementof the foot is constrained, while forward movement is relatively free.By contrast, the present invention constrains movement essentiallyequally in all directions.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,772 issued to Stratton discloses an elongatedraised guiding rail with a rider sliding thereon, including apaddle-like front foot guide restricting movement of the front foot asit strides forward during batting. The Stratton device suffers the samedestabilization problems as the Kile device; the foot paddle and railpresent obstacles to catch the batter's toes at an inopportune time,such as when it is crucial for the batter to dodge a pitch that iseither errant or intentionally thrown across the inside corner of homeplate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In very general terms, one version the invention is essentiallyan apparatus for modifying the stride of a baseball batter's swingmotion, comprising means of capturing a lower portion of a baseballbatter's front foot, and means of elastomerically tethering thecapturing means to substratum. In this manner, the batter's leading toesare allowed to stride in any direction essentially free of substantialdistal destabilizing hindrance.

[0014] One simple version is essentially one or two short bunge cordswith terminal hooks, the ends of one cord being inserted through anaperture in a base plate such as carpet, so that the intermediateportion essentially forms an elastic loop or stirrup through which afront portion of the batter's foot is inserted. That stirrup assemblymay be secured to the ground, to prevent movement when the batterattempts to raise his foot during a batting swing. The amount ofpermissible foot movement may be adjusted, depending upon the dimensionsand characteristics of the elastic stirrup. Differing amounts of yokingmay be achieved by varying the length, width, thickness and elasticityof the stirrup or tethering. The foot may additionally be secured withinthe stirrup by a second elastic cord, extending from one lateralsubsegment of the stirrup rearward around the heel portion of thebatter, and reconnecting at the opposite lateral subsegment of thestirrup.

[0015] A more preferred version replaces the bunge cords with nylonstrapping. The tethering strap is elastomeric, and it may be detachablefrom the stirrup (which may not include elasticity). The tethering strapmay also be detachable from the substratum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above and rear, looking down (atabout 45°) at this version in an unused configuration; this drawingdepicts the stirrup (11) looping up through an aperture (14) in thesubstratum (12), and with an optional heel stirrup (13).

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the side, looking down (at about45°) at the invention of FIG. 1 in a used position encapturing abatter's front foot (broken lines, for illustrative purposes only,without forming any part of the claimed design): on the inner side ofthe batter's foot, the stirrup (11) is looping up through an aperture(14) in the substratum (12), and with an optional heel stirrup (13).

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above and the side of adifferent version of the invention, looking down (at about 45°) atanother version of the invention in an open (unbuckled) unusedconfiguration; this drawing depicts a hook-and-loop stirrup (31) havingone end attached to the quick-release buckle (first terminus, 34) andhaving its free end (second terminus) including a matable half of ahook-and-loop strip (36) and sized for threading through an apertureformed in the end of the buckle en route to doubling back against theother half of a hook-and-loop strip (37); the stirrup is therebyreleasably attached to a tether (32) via an interlocking quick-releasebuckle, the tether being releasably anchored to the substratum (33) viaat least one matable snap (35).

[0019]FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 3, depicting a matable half of ahook-and-loop strip (36) threaded through an aperture formed in the endof the buckle (34), ready for doubling back against the other matablehalf of a hook-and-loop strip (37).

[0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view from above and in front of thebatter, looking down (at about 45°) at the invention of FIG. 4 with afoot encaptured (broken lines, for illustrative purposes only, withoutforming any part of the claimed design).

[0021]FIG. 6 is the same view as FIG. 5 with a foot encaptured (brokenlines, for illustrative purposes only, without forming any part of theclaimed design), with the hoop-and-look strips mated; on the inner sideof the batter's foot, the stirrup is looping up through an aperture inthe buckle, and with the tether anchored to the substratum so that thebatter's foot may stride forward essentially free of substantialdestabilizing hindrance to the toes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The claims of this invention are to be read to include anylegally equivalent device or method. Before the present invention isdescribed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the particular configurations, process steps and materialsdisclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the terminology usedherein is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the presentinvention will be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.The invention is not limited by construction materials, to the extentthat such materials satisfy the structural or functional requirements;for example, any materials may be used to make the tethering means solong as the materials fulfill the requirements that said materialsprovide the desired or necessary amount of biasing. For the sake ofsimplicity and to give the claims of this patent application thebroadest interpretation and construction possible, the followingdefinitions will apply to this application:

[0023] 1. The phrase “substantial destabilizing hindrance” or derivativethereof means any permanent or temporary obstacle or opposing forcecapable of destabilizing the batter enough to cause the batter to tripor stumble, especially forward and/or inward toward the plate and anyoncoming pitch.

[0024] 2. The phrase “ambulatory appendage” means the leg and foot,especially the lowermost portion of the leg (below the knee) to the“arch” and “ball” portions of the foot.

[0025] 3. The word “foot” means the batter's foot and any covering suchas a shoe, sock, brace or bandage.

[0026] 4. The word “stirrup” or derivative thereof means any member orassembly capable of capturing a batter's foot, at least during thebatter's hitting motion.

[0027] 5. The word “tether” or derivative thereof means any member orassembly capable of, when cooperating with a stirrup, providing abatter's foot with a predetermined amount of biasing relative tosubstratum, sufficient to discourage the pointing of the toes of thebatter's leading foot (and/or its improperly lengthy striding) directlytoward the oncoming pitched ball.

[0028] 6. The word “distal” or derivative thereof means away from thecentral body or point of attachment thereto.

[0029] 7. The word “proximal” or derivative thereof means near thecentral part of the body, or point of attachment.

[0030] Likewise, when the plural form is used, it may be taken toinclude the singular form, and vice versa. Similarly, the conjunctive“and” used in the written description may also be taken to include thedisjunctive “or” in the written description, and vice versa, for thesake of simplicity and whenever necessary to give the claims of thispatent application the broadest interpretation and constructionpossible.

[0031] In most general form, the invention disclosed herein includes anapparatus for modifying the stride of a baseball batter's swing motion,comprising a means of capturing a lower portion of a baseball batter'sforemost ambulatory appendage and a means of elastomerically tetheringthe capturing means to substratum. In this manner, the batter's leadingtoes are allowed to stride in any direction essentially free ofsubstantial distal destabilizing hindrance, especially forward towardthe pitcher's mound. In one version of the invention, said capture meanscomprises a stirrup sized to circumnavigate at least a lower portion ofa baseball batter's foremost ambulatory appendage. More particularly,said stirrup is long enough to capture the batter's lowermost leg, theankle, the arch portion of the batter's foot or the ball of the batter'sfoot, and combinations thereof. It is preferred that said stirrup islong enough to capture at least the arch portion of a batter's foot.

[0032] The stirrup may include quick release features, to facilitateeasy use during practice. In one embodiment of the invention, thestirrup further comprises a first terminus and a second portion, saidfirst terminus including one matable part of a fastening assemblyselected from the group consisting of a hook-and-loop fastening system,an interlocking quick-release buckle system, at least one snap system, astandard buckling system, and combinations thereof. (One of theimportant characteristics common to each of said members in said group,supporting the inclusion of each member in said particular group, isthat it will facilitate ready fastening and unfastening, whether it befor the purpose of tethering or anchoring or whatever.) The secondportion of the stirrup further includes a cooperating mate-part of saidfastening assembly, capable of ready capturing and uncapturing. Moreparticularly, said first terminus comprises an aperture sized to acceptsaid stirrup inserted therethrough. In this version, said secondterminal portion comprises a second terminus including one matable partof a hook-and-loop fastening system, and further includes anintermediate portion including the cooperating mate-part of saidhook-and-loop fastening system; said second terminus is insertablethrough said aperture, doubling back against said intermediate portionfor cooperative mating of said hook-and-loop fastening system.

[0033] In another version of the invention, said stirrup furthercomprises a means of releasably anchoring to said tethering means,selected from the group consisting of a hook-and-loop fastening system,an interlocking quick-release buckle system, at least one snap system, astandard buckling system, and combinations thereof. Preferably, saidreleasable anchoring means comprises one matable part of an interlockingquick-release buckle system attached to said first terminus of saidstirrup, and the other matable part of an interlocking quick-releasebuckle system attached to said and end of said tethering means.

[0034] Another version of the invention may include auxiliaryuntethering means, whereby the end of the tether nearest the substratummay be detached from the substratum. In this embodiment, said auxiliaryuntethering means comprises a fastening assembly selected from the groupconsisting of a hook-and-loop fastening system, an interlockingquick-release buckle system, at least one snap system, a standardbuckling system, and combinations thereof. Preferably, said auxiliaryuntethering means comprises at least one matable snap near a secondtether terminal end, and a cooperating matable snap anchored to saidsubstratum. More preferably, said auxiliary untethering means comprisesa plurality of matable snaps aligned along said second tether terminalend, and cooperating matable snaps anchored to said substratum. Saidsubstratum may include a plurality of alignments of cooperating matablesnaps.

[0035] Although almost any substratum may be used so long as it iscapable of preventing easy movement of the tethering means, thepreferred version includes substratum made of carpet or similarmaterial. The substratum may be of any length and width capable offulfilling its anchoring functions; preferably, it may be theapproximate size and shape of a batter's box. The substratum may furtherinclude at least one aperture or grommet along a foremost margin,capable of accepting impalement by a means for staking said substratumto the underlying surface. More particularly, there may be a pluralityof said marginal grommets, spaced to assure the desired level of stakingof said substratum.

[0036] This invention may include a plurality of separate capture means,one worn by one batter and another worn by another batter “on deck”.This will save much valuable time during practice, allowing one batterto prepare for his or her turn to bat while waiting for the currentbatter to complete batting. Each separate capture means may includetethering means having the length, width, thickness and elasticitysuitable for optimal modification of the batting swing motion of theparticular wearer.

[0037] Besides the various embodiments of the apparatus describedhereinabove, the invention disclosed herein also includes a method ofusing the apparatus. Such a method of modifying the stride of a baseballbatter's swing motion comprises the steps of capturing a lower portionof a first baseball batter's foremost ambulatory appendage batter's witha device claimed hereinabove, and utilizing same during battingpractice. The method may also include the multi-batter scenario, furthercomprising the steps of untethering said capture means of said firstbatter, then tethering a second batter whose lower portion of theforemost ambulatory appendage has been captured by a separate capturemeans.

[0038] Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this disclosurewill appreciate that it may be used as the creative basis for designingdevices or methods similar to those disclosed herein, or to designimprovements to the invention disclosed herein; such new or improvedcreations should be recognized as dependant upon the invention disclosedherein, to the extent of such reliance upon this disclosure.

Having described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for modifying the stride of a baseball batter's swing motion, comprising: means of capturing a lower portion of a baseball batter's foremost ambulatory appendage; and means of elastomerically tethering the capturing means to substratum, wherein the batter's leading toes are allowed to stride in any direction essentially free of substantial distal destabilizing hindrance.
 2. An apparatus described in claim 1 hereinabove, wherein said capture means comprises a stirrup sized to circumnavigate at least a lower portion of a baseball batter's foremost ambulatory appendage.
 3. An apparatus described in claim 2 hereinabove, wherein said stirrup is long enough to capture the batter's lowermost leg, the ankle, the arch portion of the batter's foot or the ball of the batter's foot, and combinations thereof.
 4. An apparatus described in claim 2 hereinabove, wherein said stirrup is long enough to capture the arch portion of a batter's foot.
 5. An apparatus described in claim 2 hereinabove, wherein said stirrup further comprises: a first terminus and a second portion, said first terminus including one matable part of a fastening assembly selected from the group consisting of a hook-and-loop fastening system, an interlocking quick-release buckle system, at least one snap system, a standard buckling system, and combinations thereof; said second portion comprising a cooperating mate-part of said fastening assembly, capable of ready capturing and uncapturing.
 6. An apparatus described in claim 5 hereinabove, wherein: said first terminus comprises an aperture sized to accept said stirrup inserted therethrough; said second portion comprising a second terminus including one matable part of a hook-and-loop fastening system, and further comprising an intermediate portion including the cooperating mate-part of said hook-and-loop fastening system, said second terminus insertable through said aperture and doubling back against said intermediate portion for cooperative mating of said hook-and-loop fastening system.
 7. An apparatus described in claim 6 hereinabove, wherein said stirrup further comprises a means of releasably anchoring to said tethering means, selected from the group consisting of a hook-and-loop fastening system, an interlocking quick-release buckle system, at least one snap system, a standard buckling system, and combinations thereof.
 8. An apparatus described in claim 7 hereinabove, wherein said releasable anchoring means comprises one matable part of an interlocking quick-release buckle system attached to said first terminus of said stirrup, and the other matable part of an interlocking quick-release buckle system attached to said and end of said tethering means.
 9. An apparatus described in claim 8 hereinabove, further comprising auxiliary untethering means.
 10. An apparatus described in claim 9 hereinabove, wherein said auxiliary untethering means comprises a fastening assembly selected from the group consisting of a hook-and-loop fastening system, an interlocking quick-release buckle system, at least one snap system, a standard buckling system, and combinations thereof.
 11. An apparatus described in claim 10 hereinabove, wherein said auxiliary untethering means comprises at least one matable snap near a second tether terminal end, and a cooperating matable snap anchored to said substratum.
 12. An apparatus described in claim 11 hereinabove, wherein said auxiliary untethering means comprises a plurality of matable snaps aligned along said second tether terminal end, and cooperating matable snaps anchored to said substratum.
 13. An apparatus described in claim 12 hereinabove, wherein said substratum comprises a plurality of alignments of cooperating matable snaps.
 14. An apparatus described in claim 13 hereinabove, wherein said substratum comprises carpet.
 15. An apparatus described in claim 12 hereinabove, further comprising at least one grommet along a foremost margin of said substratum, capable of accepting impalement by a means for staking said substratum to the underlying surface.
 16. An apparatus described in claim 15 hereinabove, comprising a plurality of said marginal grommets, spaced to assure the desired level of staking of said substratum.
 17. An apparatus described in claim 12 hereinabove, comprising a plurality of separate capture means, one worn by one batter and another worn by another batter “on deck”.
 18. An apparatus described in claim 17 hereinabove, wherein each separate capture mean comprises tethering means having the length, width, thickness and elasticity suitable for optimal modification of the batting swing motion of the particular wearer.
 19. A method of modifying the stride of a baseball batter's swing motion, comprising the steps of capturing a lower portion of a first baseball batter's foremost ambulatory appendage batter's with a device claimed hereinabove, and utilizing same during batting practice.
 20. A method described in claim 19 hereinabove, further comprising the steps of untethering said capture means of said first batter, then tethering a second batter whose lower portion of the foremost ambulatory appendage has been captured by a separate capture means. 